is he working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is he working" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to inquire about someone's current employment status or whether they are engaged in work at the moment. Example: "I wonder if he is working today or if he has the day off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

But who is John Harrison, and is he working alone?

The Guardian - Film

So is he working on one of these longer acts of excavation right now? "Of course!

The Guardian

What is he working on right now? "A project about Neanderthals.

The Guardian

Are we to assume that Rod or Jackie sent Hari the message saying it's time, or is he working for a different as yet unknown boss?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I could get an idea for a story now, while I am looking at your face". So is he working on one of these longer acts of excavation right now? "Of course!

The Guardian

"Or even, is he working hard enough to deliver results?" There has been a good deal of discussion of his purchase of what he called a thirdhand Porsche, with the president saying he hoped people would understand that it helped him "to smile in the face of the many problems that have been left for me to deal with".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

What was he working toward?

The New York Times

What was he working on?

The New Yorker

"Was he working at the time?" "No".

The New Yorker

Was he working out hard enough?

Los Angeles Times

When is he at work?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking "is he working?", clarify the context to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify if you're asking about a particular day, project, or general employment status.

Common error

Avoid assuming the question "is he working?" implies a judgment about the person's value or contribution. Focus on gathering information rather than making assumptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is he working" functions primarily as an interrogative clause. It seeks information about whether a male individual is currently engaged in work or employment. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is he working" is a grammatically sound and very common way to inquire about a male individual's current employment status or activity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English. It is considered generally neutral in tone and widely used across different types of sources such as news media, business documents, and scientific articles. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include is he currently employed or does he have a job depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Is he presently working?

Emphasizes the current time frame of employment.

Is he currently employed?

Focuses specifically on whether the person has a job at the present time.

Is he engaged in work?

A more formal phrasing to inquire if he is working

Is he on the job?

Indicates if the person is actively engaged in work at the moment.

Does he have a job?

Inquires about the person's job status in a more general sense.

Is he gainfully employed?

Highlights that the job is providing income.

Is he holding down a job?

Highlights the effort to maintain employment.

What work is he doing?

Shifts the focus to the type of work being performed.

What's his current occupation?

Focuses on the nature of the person's work.

Is he laboring?

A more formal and archaic way of asking if someone is working.

FAQs

How can I ask if someone is currently employed?

Instead of "is he working?", you could ask, "is he currently employed?" or "does he have a job?"

What is a more formal way to ask "is he working?"

A more formal option is, "is he engaged in work?" This phrasing is suitable for professional settings.

Which is more appropriate, "is he working" or "is he working today"?

It depends on the context. "Is he working?" generally asks about his employment status. "Is he working today?" asks about his work schedule for the current day.

What does "is he on the job?" mean?

"Is he on the job?" means is he presently at work or actively performing his work duties at this moment.